Carla couldn't find work in the legal profession, so she's dancing in a topless bar now.
Posted on 09/13/2011 6:46:26 PM PDT by TSgt
When Carla graduated 10 years ago, she thought her law degree would be a permanent ticket to a high-paying job. But instead of selling her mind, Carla is selling her body. After student loans, debt, a layoff and unemployment battered her bank account, she now finds herself in an almost unbelievable position – dancing in a topless bar.
"Did I ever think I’d be taking my top off for rent money? No. I was in my mid-30s and had never danced before," said Carla, who asked that we use her stage name and withhold her identity and some personal details. "As a little girl, I never thought to myself, 'I just want to grow up and be a stripper,’ or, ‘All I ever wanted to do in life is climb in the lap of sweaty stranger and take my top off.'
"But, with our economy the way it is, especially in smaller cities ... you strip or you starve," she said.
Last month, as part of our coverage of America’s economic malaise, we chronicled the story of a young father who took a job as a firefighter in Iraq after he couldn’t find work in Miami. Then we asked msnbc.com readers: What crazy things are you doing to make ends meet? This is the second of three reader stories we’ll share. Last week, we wrote about a man who has turned to dumpster diving to keep food on the table for his three children. Now, we tell Carla's story.
Carla couldn't find work in the legal profession, so she's dancing in a topless bar now.
(Excerpt) Read more at redtape.msnbc.msn.com ...
Dear Abby,
I met and fell in love with a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent woman
named Carla. She has a law degree and was employed as a lawyer
with a top notch firm for 9 years. Some time ago she was laid off
due to the bad economy and she now makes her living working as a
topless pole dancer.We plan on getting married soon so I am taking her home to meet
my family. As you might guess, I am apprehensive about explaining
her background to mom and dad. I want them to like and respect
her but don't know if honesty is the best policy in this situation.My concern is this: Should I tell my parents that Carla is a lawyer?
Sincerely,
Confused
Our lawyer in Century City is $500/hr.
Some can make that.
Many find themselves locked into virtual slavery. If no one comes into the “gentlemen’s” club, they still have to tip out to the bar (in many, not all, places), they may have to agree to work a certain number of nights a week, and pay even more if they don’t come in.
It is possible, if one does the math, and is not actually prostituting on the side, to find that a nine to five would provide more benefits and more money on average, over time.
Then you run up bills for self medicating - drugs or alcohol - and all the other stupid taxes people who make poor choices have to pay, and it can leave little for the three children to eat on, especially as the view of men that they often develop does not tend to lead them into choosing good “baby daddies” who will actually provide for them.
While I'm not quite thinking guilty, I'm not thinking $50 an hour, either.
I.T., Support, design, implementation. Systems Analysis. Networking, training. Self-employed.
No one would hire me, so I started my own business. Tough for a while, now things are pretty good. Keep in mind, I rarely work 8 billable hours in a single day. More like 4 or so. Anywhere from “1 hour phone call” to “14 hours in a server-based emergency on friday night with weekend hourly billing being applied”. That was a good month.
Comment Of The Day!
Your welcome. Well at least she isn’t hopping in one of the many bars on 8 mile or Van Dyke.
maybe she just sucks at being a lawyer...
Haaa!
If true, its a sad story.
That is how this country became great. I envy you. I am a lawyer and my phone hasn’t rung in 4 weeks. I am looking for a dramatic change and I will not strip........I am a 58 year old guy so there. I applaude your spirit.
I was hoping it would be Corri Fetman
She was stupid to get that sort of degree, but didn’t do anything on the side that would enable her to gain experience so she could start off reasonably well? Like so many idiot graduates she foolishly thought that the degree alone would be sufficient to start her off at the top. She should have been working on a side job as well to take the edge off of her debts as well, then she wouldn’t be buried in debt. A degree is pointless if there is no side experience that will show that you are worth the salary you expect.
Whore leaves off whoring to start stripping because of better pay and better hours. --- where's the story here?
I stand corrected.
Good for her!
Confused, Confused... Chorus: You have no complaint You are what your are and you ain't what you ain't So listen up Buster, and listen up good Stop wishing for bad luck and knocking on wood (John Prine)
Don't know if that is an improvement or not.
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